What is PCH caller ID?
Definition
PCH caller ID is a name or number on your phone screen claiming to be Publishers Clearing House. Scammers use it to say you've won a prize, then ask you to pay a fee first. The real PCH never asks for one.
- Category
- Scams
- Also called
- Publishers Clearing House call, PCH scam call
- Last updated
Publishers Clearing House (PCH) is a real sweepstakes company, which is exactly why its name works for scammers. Someone calls, or sends a letter, saying you've won, and then asks you to pay before you can collect.
How the scam works
The FTC says the scam starts with a call or letter telling you you've won the PCH sweepstakes. The caller then asks for money, usually by methods that are hard to trace: Western Union or MoneyGram, a reloadable card or a gift card. Some scammers mail a counterfeit check and ask you to send back part of it. When the check bounces, even after it seemed to clear, you can be on the hook for the money you sent.
Why the caller ID looks real
The FTC warns that scammers can make any name or number show up on your caller ID, including an official-sounding one like Publishers Clearing House. A matching name on your screen proves nothing.
What the real company says
The FTC reports that the real PCH says it will never ask you to pay a fee to collect a prize. In one version of the scam, callers say you won a multi-state lottery and tell you to press 1 to learn more. The FTC's answer to every version is the same: it's a scam.
Separately, the FTC took action against the real company over deceptive sweepstakes practices. That case is unrelated to the impostor calls.
How to protect yourself
- 1
Hang up if you're asked to pay to win
A real prize doesn't cost money to collect. Any request for a fee, a gift card or a wire transfer is the sign.
- 2
Don't trust the name on your screen
Scammers can show any name or number. If you're unsure, hang up and contact the company through its official website.
- 3
Never send money back from a check
A check can bounce days after your bank shows the funds. Don't deposit one and send part of it to someone.
- 4
Report it
Report the call to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- 5
Make your number harder to find
Scam lists are built from data brokers and leaked data. Serus finds where your phone number is listed and removes it where it can be taken down.
See where your personal data is exposed
Serus finds it on data brokers and people-search sites and removes it.
Frequently asked
Is a call from PCH real?
Do not take a call as proof. The FTC says caller ID can be faked and that the real PCH never asks for a fee to collect a prize.
What do PCH scammers ask for?
Payment, typically by Western Union, MoneyGram, a reloadable card or a gift card, or for you to send back part of a fake check.
Where do I report a PCH scam?
At ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
Sources
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